Armed Security Guards Need Background Check and More Training

Podcast Time Stamps

• [00:40] – Should government create laws for armed security guards
• [01:25] – Armed security officers are not police officers
• [04:10] – Interview with investigative reporter Lisa McCormick begins
• [08:00] – At what level of government should regulations be enacted
• [12:00] – Need for a national armed security guards clearinghouse
• [18:15] – Armed security guards agency is easiest to regulate
• [21:15] – Property owners that hire armed guards are responsible
• [23:00] – Interview follow-up and remarks

Armed Security Guards in the News

Investigative reporter, Lisa McCormick from WDAF-TV in Kansas City called to get my opinion about the need for armed security guards licensing and background checks in Missouri, Kansas, and other states.

Armed Security Guards – Big Questions

• Should Missouri, Kansas, and other states create laws requiring background checks of armed security guards?
• What are the risks of not having screening and training regulations for armed security guards?
• Do I agree that the industry of armed security guards is a haphazard system of lax laws with minimal oversight and almost no accountability?
• Are more hours of scenario training required for armed security guards?

Armed Security Guards – Answers are Complex

• The federal government should only provide a framework for private security guard screening especially the small armed segment of that industry.
• The federal government should assist with coordination of a national clearinghouse for background checks and ease current obstructions
• The state government is good at setting regulations and standards, but not for staying on top of licensing, complaints, and local enforcement.
• Local municipal government is best at enforcement if they consistently under-take the duty statewide and have budget assistance to do so.
• There needs to be a hybrid method of adopting Federal & State standards with local enforcement and oversight without being burdensome.
• We can do better, for example, a licensed manicurist has stricter licensing and training requirements than an armed security guard.

Armed Guard Capable of Using Deadly Force

More Resources on this Subject:

• Video source: CNN and Center for Investigative Reporting with Anderson Cooper.
• CNN year-long report on Armed Security Guards called Hired Guns, part-two.
• Related guard licensing story of a shooting death at a Florida nightclub.
• Armed and Dangerous – An illustrated story reads like a graphic novel.